|
Webmaster:
I know it is kinda early to talk about the 2011 bid, but Botswana is doing a great PR job, so here is their announcement of 3 things, why should you vote on their behalf.
Dear Worlds Community,
There are many reasons why the University of Botswana should host the World
Universities Debating Championships in 2011, but here are the 3 most
important - Organization, Development & Excitement
*Organization*
This is our 3rd concurrent bid for worlds. We've been preparing for worlds
since May 2006 and we believe this clearly exhibits our desire to host the
tournament, our long term vision and our ability to sustain an organization.
We have an experienced organizing team, with anywhere from 7-15 years debate
and hosting experience.
We recently hosted the biggest tournament in Africa, the first Pan-African
Universities Debating Championships involving 10 African countries, more
than 30 Universities from across the African continent and many debate
trainers.
We have actively participated in the South African Debating Championships
for the past 9 years and are regular breakers in the tournament. Since 1997
we have competed in the World Universities Debating Championship twice in
Stellenbosch (1997, 2003), NTU Singapore (2004), MMU Malaysia (2005), UBC
Vancouver (2007) and in Bangkok Thailand last year.
We have organized the Botswana schools debating tournament for the past four
years and the Botswana inter-college championships. We know that organizing
tournaments can be logistically exhaustive, random and difficult to manage.
We know because we've been part of, planned and executed similar tournaments
and events before and are thus ready for the challenge.
The University of Botswana has a long and impressive track record of hosting
large regional events. The entire tournament will take place on the
University of Botswana campus, which is in the city centre of Gaborone.
We have more than 50 smart classrooms, which will make excellent debate
venues, lectures halls with more than 500 persons seating capacity and
comfortable dining halls. The infrastructure to host large international
conferences is available.
In the last two years alone, UB hosted the BOLESWA games between Botswana
Lesotho Swaziland (which includes debating), a pre CHOGM Symposium for all
Commonwealth Universities, the NOMA awards for the best writer, author and
publisher n Africa, the first IASTED conference in Africa (International
Association for Science and technology Development) and many more events
that depended upon huge conference facilities, IT support, first world class
accommodation, safe environments and easy international access.
We have incredible amount of support from the government, private sector,
and NGOs. With our improved organizational team and with Logandran
Balavijendran and James Dray heading the Adjudication team, we honestly
believe we can host not just the best Worlds in Africa, but the best Worlds
ever.
*Development*
>From 1997 to 2009 only 1 Worlds has been hosted in Africa (4 in AustralAsia,
5 in Europe, 2 in North America). Yet teams from the African Continent have
participated in every one of them. Occasionally some institutions will make
their first appearance, but seldom come back, it is now time that Africa is
given a chance
In the 30 years of WUDC history, it has visited the African continent twice
(Stellenbosch, South Africa, 1997 and 2003). For 2 debate generations,
debaters in Africa have not had Worlds on their continent. Representation of
African teams at Worlds has withered. While debate continues to flourish in
pockets, it does so alone and segregated from the Worlds community. It is
time we changed this.
Hosting the World Universities Debating Championships in Botswana will allow
debate to grow in Africa, because it will give us a platform to promote
debate. Members of the organizing committee of Botswana Worlds 2011 have
been promoting debate actively in Southern Africa, mainly by running
workshops and debate tournaments in Swaziland and Lesotho. The response, to
learn and spread debate, has been amazing. With the support of other
debating nations in Southern Africa, we will use WUDC 2011 to plant debating
into as many of the 52 countries in Africa as possible.
By 2011 we pledge to bring 20 African countries to Worlds for the first time
ever. In the first continental tournament we organized we were able to bring
10 African countries together just in a space of under four months, next
year we plan to double the size of the tournament and even have 150 teams.
There are many many countries that have shown interest to participate and
could not come this year and we are working with IDEA/OSI on assisting them
to be able to attend next year.
We are currently in the process of setting up an English Speaking Union in
Botswana, because of the attention and awareness we generated through our
bid for Botswana Worlds 2010. When other corporations, universities and
governments see how huge, important and colorful the WUDC and debate is,
they will be more pliable to pleas of support from hundreds of debaters in
their countries. This helps build larger debate organizations, secure
support for regional debate events and obtain funding to attend future
Worlds.
*Excitement*
At the risk of sounding fantastic, the truth is Botswana has everything. The
most stable democratic country in Africa, with a solid economy and great
infrastructure - boasts all the comforts and excitement of any developed
city. Great shopping, clubs, bars, food, casinos, backpacking adventure,
resorts and food from around the world.
Integrated into Worlds will be visits to the Mokolodi Nature Reserve, (Game
viewing, leopard petting, elephant riding and general lounging in the sun),
beers at St.Claire Lion's Park, opportunities to visit the Central Kalahari
Nature Reserve.
Botswana worlds will also be less than 6 months after the FIFA World Cup
ends just across the border in South Africa. This means more travel
promotions, which means more options at less cost for you!
If the WUDC is to take you somewhere you would never go or could never go on
your own, let it take you to Botswana, Africa. Let it take you to the
Safari, the Okavango, the Kalahari; to the transparent, safe, democratic,
pluralistic nation that is Africa's best kept secret. Let it take you to
Botswana.
Please visit our website, www.botswanaworlds.
com, for more updated
information (organization team, logistics, schedules), videos and pictures.
I will see you at Cork, and hopefully, at Botswana Worlds 2011!
Cheers
Justice Motlhabani
Convenor
Botswana Worlds 2011
|
WUDC 2011 
